Janet Simpson

Memorial Services at First United Methodist Church, Walters, Thursday, October 19 at 10:30 a.m., Rev. Brantley Tillery officiating under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters. Memorial Donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Oklahoma, Walters, OK 73572.

Janet Marie Florance was born to George Raymond and Faye Parillee (Montgomery) Florance on June 22, 1947 at Lawrence, KS and departed this life in Walters, OK on October 14, 2017 at the age of 70 years, 3 months and 22 days.

She graduated in 1965 from Baldwin High School, Baldwin, KS and then completed her BS in elementary education from Baker University at Baldwin in 1969. Janet received her master’s degree in elementary education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK. She married Hubert Scottie Simpson on May 26, 1978 in San Antonio, TX.

Janet’s teaching career spanned 30 years at schools in Jefferson County, CO, Eldorado, IL and Lawton, OK. In Lawton she taught elementary students at Whittier Elementary and later as an itinerant teacher to learning disabilities students at various Lawton elementary schools. She was awarded the Lawton Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 1991 for the Outstanding Special Education Teacher.

Janet and her husband, Scottie, contractually worked many years for VA and FHA entities, mowing lawns and cleaning repossessed homes, in addition to their teaching careers. They truly enjoyed this, as it afforded them more time together.

Janet was an active member of the Walters First United Methodist Church. Before the onset of her illness she delivered Meals on Wheels, helped institute the Walters Food Pantry, and rejuvenated the Walters Senior Citizens Center. She belonged to various teaching organizations throughout her career. She loved to sew, do gourmet cooking, and expertly photograph nature.

She and Scottie traveled all over the world. In 2015, she fulfilled a life-long dream by travelling to Norway with her sister, Nadine, to visit the birthplace of their grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Scottie Simpson; her father, George Florance; her mother, Faye Florance Heckman; her step-father, Paul Jackson Heckman; and a sister, Leanna Jane Florance.

Survivors include 2 step sons, Burt Keith Simpson and wife Millie of Hollywood, CA and Mark Scott Simpson of Lawton, OK; 5 grandchildren, Chad Simpson and partner Jennifer Langford of Elgin, OK, Cory Simpson, Steven Thomason, Brandon Thomason and Marissa Thomason all of Lawton; a great grandson, Kason Thomason of Lawton; her sister, Nadine Snider and husband Sid of Lawrence, KS; 2 brothers-in-law, Tom Simpson and wife Gail of Wichita Falls, TX and Don Simpson of Walters; 2 sisters-in-law, Melba Foster and husband Chuck of Colorado Springs, CO and Brenda Tabbytite of Tulsa, OK; her best friend, Gloria Foster of Nocona, TX; lots of loving nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

The world is diminished by her passing. Janet’s kind, sensitive nature touched all those who were blessed to know her. As a woman of strong faith, Jan would say to all who miss her, “Having a Heavenly time; till we meet again.”